The search for nirvana, whether it is the perfect partner, job, setting, workout, dinner, vacation, etc. is an endless search. There is no such thing. The same goes for presidential candidates, regardless of party, country, state, locality, etc. And sadly, the better candidates get tainted once they have been elected as they make compromises and decisions which you may not like. Or, maybe when looked back on with a different context, those decisions look foolish.
I have been watching the circular firing squad of the Democratic party candidates for several months. I see more fanatical followers of candidates use a scorched earth mindset to destroy the candidates that are not their favorite. I witnessed this in 2016, when some Bernie Sanders were so adamantly against an imperfect Hillary Clinton, they could not bring themselves to vote for her. The current US president used this ammunition to create even more distaste and get those voters to stay home, vote for Gary Johnson or Jill Stein or even vote for him as a change agent. It worked as he needed less than 100,000 voters spread among three states to win.
Every Democratic candidate has good selling points. And, every Democrat candidate has faults. I will not belabor either one of these lists, as my purpose is not to analyze the veracity of one or the other here. I will save that for a future post, when the slate gets more manageable. I will add every Democrat candidate has a better moral and ethical compass than that of the incumbent president. Conservative writer David Brooks noted that Trump does not seem to be able to show empathy. Almost every situation is exploited to elevate himself. Yet, in so doing, he reveals a very shallow and egomaniacal person. At times he reveals his corrupt nature.
Yes, I want the next president to focus on climate change, healthcare, career training for new and emerging jobs, better gun governance, etc. Yes, I would like them to deal with the debt and deficit. Yes, I would like them to restore America’s reputation as a trusted, fair and reasonable global partner. But, I would like my president to represent our better angels, not our worst demons. The current one does not. Issues are used to divide, not galvanize. I want a president to shine a spotlight on poor behavior, not condone it or discount it.
So, as people look for perfect candidates, remember this biblical example. We had only one perfect person walk the earth – and we killed him. Let’s not kill the Democrat candidate in search for nirvana.
musingsofanoldfart 
This is a most important post Keith.
No candidate is perfect in everyone’s eyes, that is a simple facet of human nature. Democrat voters should accept this and line up behind whoever wins the nomination, if they do not make this effort and allow Trump back in then they do not really care for their nation- harsh words? Yes. But that is Democracy – there is no perfection.
Roger, thanks. If they want someone to care about the climate, environment, other countries, civil rights, civil discourse, etc. Trump is certainly not that person. Keith
I cannot think, for the life of me, just what Trump might be the person for, on a positive theme, that is.
Roger, I am at a loss as well. As for negative themes, well there are many to choose from. Keith
Quite!
Note to Readers: As I ponder this topic, two corollary comments come to mind.
– the perfect is the enemy of the good (Voltaire)
– a good plan today, will beat a perfect plan tomorrow (George Patton)
Finally, one of the finest people to ever walk the earth had doubts. She would pray to God to give her strength to carry on. Her name – Mother Teresa.